Army Reports ₱27.2 Million in Cigarette Seizures, Over 250 Foreign Nationals Apprehended in Western Mindanao
The Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division reported the arrest of more than 250 foreign nationals and the seizure of an estimated ₱27.27 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes during law enforcement operations in Western Mindanao in October 2026.
The operations, conducted with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), local governments and other law enforcement agencies, also led to the arrest of wanted individuals and drug suspects.
More than 250 foreign nationals were apprehended on October 2 in separate operations linked to suspected scam hubs in Siay and Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay. Of those taken into custody, 150 were transported to Manila on October 7 and 26 for further verification and investigation by the relevant government agencies.
In a separate operation on October 2, personnel from the Army’s 106th Infantry Battalion and the Naga Municipal Police Station seized approximately ₱1.074 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes at a checkpoint in Barangay La Paz, Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay. Two people were also arrested.
On October 21, personnel from the 53rd Infantry Battalion seized about ₱26.2 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes in Barangay Old Labangan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur. The unit worked with barangay officials, the PNP-CIDG and the BIR to verify and inventory the seized goods and determine their proper legal disposition.
Meanwhile, wanted individuals were arrested in separate operations in Dinas, Zamboanga del Sur, and Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. The 53rd Infantry Battalion, working with the Dinas Municipal Police Station and other law enforcement units, arrested three people on October 5. Joint personnel from Task Force Marawi and the Marawi City Police Station arrested two more on October 13.
The division also supported anti-drug operations in Lanao del Sur. On October 26, personnel from the 64th Infantry Battalion supported a buy-bust operation conducted by the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU) in Barangay Matalin, Malabang. The operation led to the arrest of three people and the seizure of about 200 grams of suspected shabu worth ₱1.36 million.
That same day, the Army’s 44th Infantry Battalion, in coordination with the local government of Poona Piagapo, facilitated the turnover of nine loose firearms in Balo-i, Lanao del Norte, under the Small Arms and Light Weapons Management Program.
In the last operation reported for the month, joint personnel from the 5th Mechanised Battalion and the Maigo Municipal Police Station arrested a wanted person in Barangay Poblacion, Maigo, Lanao del Norte, on October 29. Authorities also seized suspected shabu worth ₱25,160.
The Tabak Division said its continued coordination with law enforcement agencies aims to combat illegal drugs, smuggling, the proliferation of loose firearms and suspected scam hub operations, as well as apprehend wanted individuals within its area of responsibility.
“Through sustained interagency cooperation and coordinated operations, the Division remains steadfast in advancing peace, order, and security across Western Mindanao,” the division said in its statement.
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